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1999 Field Trips
Index:
Where: the Desert Rose mine dump (see the club's May newsletter)
Land owner: Private property (club members have permission)
To Collect: Fluorite, Galena, Barite, Quartz, Linarite, Brochantite, etc.
Leader: Bob Loeffler
Fee or Donation: $7.50 per person per day
Health Hazards: Sunburn; heat; scorpions; rattlesnakes.
Terrain: Steep, rocky mountains; desert.
Elevation: low desert
Vehicle Suggested: Any; High Clearance suggested.
Equipment Suggested: Pick, rock hammer, chisels, prybar and collecting bags.
Water: Not Available. Bring plenty of water.
Nearest Town for Supplies: 30 miles in San Antonio, NM; Socorro has more and is 40 miles away.
Nearest Motel is in: Socorro, 40 miles away.
Additional Comments:We will be digging in the Desert Rose mine dump. Minimal supplies in San Antonio. The mine dump is south of Bingham on a dirt road that goes through several dry washes. Terrain is very barren and dry. It might be very hot. Bring plenty of water (1 gallon per person per day). Joint trip with the RAMS club.
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Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Smoky Quartz, Amazonite and Topaz
Leader: (to be announced)
Fee or Donation: Optional Forest Service donation
Health Hazards: Ticks
Terrain: Rocky mountains and hills; trees.
Elevation: 8500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, crack hammer, chisels, screen, small prybar and collecting bags.
Camping: 0 to 2 miles from collecting site
Water: Available at Devil's Head Campground
Nearest Town for Supplies: 21 miles away
Nearest Motel is in: 21 miles away
Additional Comments: Dry camp. Last few miles on bladed forest road. 0-2 mile hike on moderate to steep terrain. Mid-afternoon storms. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: Public property
To Collect: Petrified Wood and Agate
Leader: Ron and Judy Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Sunburn if sunny; mosquitos and ticks.
Terrain: High desert
Elevation: appoximately 7200 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, chisels, long thin pole for probing in the ground, and collecting bags.
Camping: near collecting sites
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Farson, WY
Nearest Motel is in: Farson, WY
Additional Comments: Toilets available at camp site. Several free field trips each day, including the Blue Forest and gold panning (bring your own pan). Bring swapping material if you wish to swap. One motel in Farson; more in Rock Springs which is 35 miles to the south. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: Private property (club members have permission)
To Collect: Rhodochrosite, Fluorite, Quartz and Pyrite
Leader: Bob Loeffler
Fee or Donation: none
Health Hazards: Elevation; cold; sunburn if sunny.
Terrain: Rocky mountains; trees.
Elevation: approximately 12,000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any, although 4WD is suggested.
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, garden scratcher, small prybar, screen and collecting bags.
Water: Available in Alma, CO
Nearest Town for Supplies: Alma, 5 miles away.
Nearest Motel is in: Fairplay, 10 miles away.
Additional Comments: BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: BLM campground
To Collect: Garnets and Topaz
Leaders: Bob Loeffler and Eldon Hunewell
Fee or Donation: $7.00/vehicle/night at Ruby Mt.; free at Contin-Tail
Health Hazards: Loose rocks; Arkansas river with strong currents (watch small children)
Terrain: Steep cliff and river
Elevation: approximately 6800 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Pick, hammer, prybar, crack hammer, chisels and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: Camping at site for $7, or at Contin-Tail swap meet in Buena Vista for free.
Water: Not Available at Ruby Mt.; Available at Contin-Tail Rock Swap.
Nearest Town for Supplies: 8 miles away in Buena Vista
Nearest Motel is in: 8 miles away in Buena Vista
Additional Comments: Garnets and Topaz are in very hard rhyolite; hard-rock labor necessary. Contin-Tail is also putting on a children's rock hunting area, a Friday night (8:30pm) fluorescent rock presentation, and a Saturday night potluck dinner. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's newsletter)
Land owner: claimed by the RAMS club
To Collect: Amazonite, Smoky Quartz and Goethite
Leader: Ron Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: none
Health Hazards: Heat, cold, wind; sunburn if sunny; rain.
Terrain: Mountains and hills; trees.
Elevation: approximately 8500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, crack hammer, chisels, prybar, and collecting bags.
Camping: at the site (see club's newsletter)
Water: Available in Lake George, CO.
Nearest Town for Supplies: Lake George, 10 miles away
Nearest Motel is in: Lake George, 10 miles away
Additional Comments: Joint trip with the RAMS club. Picnic lunch at 12 noon on Saturday - bring a dish to share. Dry area - no water or restrooms. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Aquamarine, Fluorite, Phenakite and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Dr. Andy Taylor
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Extremely high altitude; cold; windy; rain, snow, hail; lightning in afternoon; sunburn if sunny; rockslides (loose rocks).
Terrain: Steep, bare, rocky mountains; above the tree-line.
Elevation: 12,000 - 14,000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: 4WD REQUIRED!!!
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, prybar, crack hammer, chisels, garden scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: 0-2 miles from digging site
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: 20 miles away in Buena Vista
Nearest Motel is in: 20 miles away in Buena Vista
Additional Comments: Afternoon storms are common. Elevation at camp is 12,000 ft. All collecting areas are above 12,500 ft. Extremely rough roads. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: Private property; permission REQUIRED (club members have permission)
To Collect: Blue Barite
Leader: Ron Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Can be hot, cold (snow) and/or windy; Sunburn (no shade); possible rattlesnakes.
Terrain: Grassy plains and barren cliffs.
Elevation: ~4500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, crack hammer, chisels, prybar, pick, wedges and something to hold your specimens (such as egg cartons and tissues).
Camping: 2 miles from digging area
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south)
Nearest Motel is in: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south)
Additional Comments: Digging is in rock-hard clay. No open fires. Fill in holes. If wet or muddy, do not drive on access road; park on main road and hike in. BACK TO TOP
| May 29 - 31 | Bingham, NM Trip | |
| June 5 - 6 | Devil's Head (Sedalia, CO) | |
| July 2 - 4 | Big Sandy Resevoir (Farson, Wyoming) | |
| July 24 | Sweet Home Mine, CO | |
| August 15 | Ruby Mt., CO | |
| August 21 - 22 | Lake George, CO | |
| September 4 - 6 | Mt. Antero (Nathrop, CO) | |
| October ??? | Stoneham, CO |
Bingham, New Mexico Trip
May 29-31
Trip Report
Where: the Desert Rose mine dump (see the club's May newsletter)
Land owner: Private property (club members have permission)
To Collect: Fluorite, Galena, Barite, Quartz, Linarite, Brochantite, etc.
Leader: Bob Loeffler
Fee or Donation: $7.50 per person per day
Health Hazards: Sunburn; heat; scorpions; rattlesnakes.
Terrain: Steep, rocky mountains; desert.
Elevation: low desert
Vehicle Suggested: Any; High Clearance suggested.
Equipment Suggested: Pick, rock hammer, chisels, prybar and collecting bags.
Water: Not Available. Bring plenty of water.
Nearest Town for Supplies: 30 miles in San Antonio, NM; Socorro has more and is 40 miles away.
Nearest Motel is in: Socorro, 40 miles away.
Additional Comments:We will be digging in the Desert Rose mine dump. Minimal supplies in San Antonio. The mine dump is south of Bingham on a dirt road that goes through several dry washes. Terrain is very barren and dry. It might be very hot. Bring plenty of water (1 gallon per person per day). Joint trip with the RAMS club.
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Devil's Head, CO Trip
June 5-6
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Smoky Quartz, Amazonite and Topaz
Leader: (to be announced)
Fee or Donation: Optional Forest Service donation
Health Hazards: Ticks
Terrain: Rocky mountains and hills; trees.
Elevation: 8500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, crack hammer, chisels, screen, small prybar and collecting bags.
Camping: 0 to 2 miles from collecting site
Water: Available at Devil's Head Campground
Nearest Town for Supplies: 21 miles away
Nearest Motel is in: 21 miles away
Additional Comments: Dry camp. Last few miles on bladed forest road. 0-2 mile hike on moderate to steep terrain. Mid-afternoon storms.
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Big Sandy Rock Swap in Farson, WY
July 2-4
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: Public property
To Collect: Petrified Wood and Agate
Leader: Ron and Judy Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Sunburn if sunny; mosquitos and ticks.
Terrain: High desert
Elevation: appoximately 7200 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, chisels, long thin pole for probing in the ground, and collecting bags.
Camping: near collecting sites
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Farson, WY
Nearest Motel is in: Farson, WY
Additional Comments: Toilets available at camp site. Several free field trips each day, including the Blue Forest and gold panning (bring your own pan). Bring swapping material if you wish to swap. One motel in Farson; more in Rock Springs which is 35 miles to the south.
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Sweet Home Mine, CO Trip
July 24
Trip Report
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: Private property (club members have permission)
To Collect: Rhodochrosite, Fluorite, Quartz and Pyrite
Leader: Bob Loeffler
Fee or Donation: none
Health Hazards: Elevation; cold; sunburn if sunny.
Terrain: Rocky mountains; trees.
Elevation: approximately 12,000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any, although 4WD is suggested.
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, garden scratcher, small prybar, screen and collecting bags.
Water: Available in Alma, CO
Nearest Town for Supplies: Alma, 5 miles away.
Nearest Motel is in: Fairplay, 10 miles away.
Additional Comments:
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Ruby Mt., CO Trip
(16th Annual Contin-Tail Rock Swap)
August 15
Ruby Mt. trip cancelled! Property sold.
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: BLM campground
To Collect: Garnets and Topaz
Leaders: Bob Loeffler and Eldon Hunewell
Fee or Donation: $7.00/vehicle/night at Ruby Mt.; free at Contin-Tail
Health Hazards: Loose rocks; Arkansas river with strong currents (watch small children)
Terrain: Steep cliff and river
Elevation: approximately 6800 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Pick, hammer, prybar, crack hammer, chisels and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: Camping at site for $7, or at Contin-Tail swap meet in Buena Vista for free.
Water: Not Available at Ruby Mt.; Available at Contin-Tail Rock Swap.
Nearest Town for Supplies: 8 miles away in Buena Vista
Nearest Motel is in: 8 miles away in Buena Vista
Additional Comments: Garnets and Topaz are in very hard rhyolite; hard-rock labor necessary. Contin-Tail is also putting on a children's rock hunting area, a Friday night (8:30pm) fluorescent rock presentation, and a Saturday night potluck dinner.
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Lake George, CO Trip
August 21-22
Re-scheduled from June.
Where: (see club's newsletter)
Land owner: claimed by the RAMS club
To Collect: Amazonite, Smoky Quartz and Goethite
Leader: Ron Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: none
Health Hazards: Heat, cold, wind; sunburn if sunny; rain.
Terrain: Mountains and hills; trees.
Elevation: approximately 8500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, crack hammer, chisels, prybar, and collecting bags.
Camping: at the site (see club's newsletter)
Water: Available in Lake George, CO.
Nearest Town for Supplies: Lake George, 10 miles away
Nearest Motel is in: Lake George, 10 miles away
Additional Comments: Joint trip with the RAMS club. Picnic lunch at 12 noon on Saturday - bring a dish to share. Dry area - no water or restrooms.
BACK TO TOP
Mt. Antero, CO Trip
September 4-6
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Aquamarine, Fluorite, Phenakite and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Dr. Andy Taylor
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Extremely high altitude; cold; windy; rain, snow, hail; lightning in afternoon; sunburn if sunny; rockslides (loose rocks).
Terrain: Steep, bare, rocky mountains; above the tree-line.
Elevation: 12,000 - 14,000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: 4WD REQUIRED!!!
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, prybar, crack hammer, chisels, garden scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: 0-2 miles from digging site
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: 20 miles away in Buena Vista
Nearest Motel is in: 20 miles away in Buena Vista
Additional Comments: Afternoon storms are common. Elevation at camp is 12,000 ft. All collecting areas are above 12,500 ft. Extremely rough roads.
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Stoneham, CO Trip
October ???
Re-scheduled from May.
Where: (see club's field trip booklet)
Land owner: Private property; permission REQUIRED (club members have permission)
To Collect: Blue Barite
Leader: Ron Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Can be hot, cold (snow) and/or windy; Sunburn (no shade); possible rattlesnakes.
Terrain: Grassy plains and barren cliffs.
Elevation: ~4500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, crack hammer, chisels, prybar, pick, wedges and something to hold your specimens (such as egg cartons and tissues).
Camping: 2 miles from digging area
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south)
Nearest Motel is in: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south)
Additional Comments: Digging is in rock-hard clay. No open fires. Fill in holes. If wet or muddy, do not drive on access road; park on main road and hike in.
BACK TO TOP